Warnock's the right fit for Parish

Crystal Palace co-chairman Steve Parish believes Neil Warnock will prove a "safe pair of hands" after the veteran manager began a second spell in charge at Selhurst Park.

Warnock signed a two-year deal at Palace on Wednesday to make a surprise return, four years after leaving when the Eagles slipped into administration.

He moved on to QPR, who sacked Warnock in January 2012 with the club 17th in the Premier League after he had guided them to the top flight for the first time in 15 years, and went on to work for Leeds but achieved scant success at Elland Road.

Parish turned to Warnock after giving up on the idea of appointing Malky Mackay when the Scot admitted to sending a series of "completely unacceptable" text messages during his time in charge of Cardiff.

"Malky was someone who interviewed very well," Parish said on Wednesday. "It was impossible to offer him the job. From a footballing point of view Malky was a very good candidate but unfortunately there were things that obviously meant we couldn't bring him to the club."

At the age of 65, Warnock is unlikely to prove the long-term solution that Palace were aiming for, but he could have a kingmaking role next summer when he and Parish consider the club's long-term future.

In the short term, Parish and Warnock were preparing to discuss transfer targets ahead of Monday's deadline for summer deals.

"There's plenty more work to do," Parish told Sky Sports News HQ.

"We've got the transfer window closing on Monday and I think he'd want to bring a few in, so hopefully we've got some more good news for supporters in the next few days."

Palace have lost their opening two Premier League matches to Arsenal and West Ham, having been jolted by the surprise departure of manager Tony Pulis on the eve of the season.

In Warnock, Parish is certain he has found an ideal successor to Pulis.

"I've known Neil since the club went into administration. Funnily enough the first time I met Neil properly was when we flew to Newcastle the night we went into admin," Parish said. Palace are at Newcastle on Saturday.

"He's someone who has always been helpful to me and offered advice and I think he's a safe pair of hands for us right now.

"I think he's got unfinished business. I think he's got things he wants to prove to himself. I think he likes the club and has a lot of affection for the fans and he felt a good fit."

Parish has "succession planning" on his mind, hoping to build a solid structure at the club.

"Once we get this season out of the way Neil and I will sit down and talk about that and hopefully we can plan the future for the club in a more considered fashion," Parish said.

After Mackay, Tim Sherwood, Neil Lennon, Steve Clarke and Glenn Hoddle were linked to the position, it came out of the blue for Warnock to leapfrog to the front of the queue.

"We never offered the job to anybody else," Parish said. "No job offer was made to any manager other than Neil, and that's the person we want to go forward with."

Warnock's former Palace assistant Mick Jones believes his old boss is still hurting from the way he left QPR.

Jones, who worked with Warnock for eight years at Sheffield United, Palace, QPR and Leeds, knows his friend is desperate for another chance.

"The last time we were never in the bottom three and I know that rankles with Neil, how he got the sack and had never been in the relegation zone," Jones told Press Association Sport.

"There's something about Neil and Palace that rings true. He never regretted being there, he loved living there, his family were happy and he was sad to leave.

"He is steeped in management success and promotions and when you look around at candidates for Premier League roles, I can't see a better one.

"Since Sunday League football, since day one, Neil and football management have been a marriage.

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